Getting into your “Flow”

January 7th, 2011 Eileen

I’ve mentioned before that I’m a huge fan of the Internet and Social Media. I’ve learned so many incredible and empowering things by accessing and using both of these mediums. They’re an unlimited source of awakening for me through the things I learn when surfing the Net or sharing and reading in forums and social media sites. More and more often today, when I learn amazing new things or am introduced to incredible people, it’s through one of these two sources.

I’m also a BIG believer in the power of The Universe. Over and over in my life, especially when I’m struggling with a problem, I’ve personally experienced and benefitted from the messages sent directly to me by this higher, ever present power.

This week, the message sent to me by the Universe was about being in “FLOW.”

According to Wikipedia, “flow is the mental state of operation in which a person in an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and success in the process of the activity. Colloquial terms for this or similar mental states include:to be on the ball, in the moment, present, in the zone, in the groove, or keeping your head in the game. In an extreme state of being in the zone, time slows down and unusually higher physical performance may be achieved.”

When we’re young and learning new skills, it seems easier to get into the flow, to block out distractions and lose ourselves in the process of perfecting new skills. But as we grow up, and especially for adult women, increased responsibilities and tasks make it harder for us to maintain the laser focus necessary to quiet our minds.

And laser focus and a quiet mind are absolutely necessary to achieve flow.

I love that Vishen Lakhiani has created his own word to describe the practice of keeping yourself in flow: “bliss-ipline.”

“Bliss,” according to Wikipedia “can be a state of profound satisfaction, happiness and joy, a constant state of mind, undisturbed by gain or loss.” Note that bliss is not disturbed by “gain or loss.” True bliss, in other words, is unaffected by external factors because it’s an internal state of being. When we experience bliss, our physical condition is irrelevant, and the normal “racket” in our brains is switched off.

And “discipline” according to Merriam Webster is “training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character.”

“Blissipline” is the perfect word for getting into true flow, isn’t it?

In Vishen’s video, he also referred to meeting a member from his audience, and the profound words he spoke to Vishen: “Sometimes you have to destroy your life to let the next great thing happen.”

Finally, at the end of the video, the very last sentence spoken shot through me in an intense, explosive ray of illumination. Vishen said, “When you love what you’re doing and you have big dreams, you’re in that state of flow and your impact is amazing.”

“WOW!” I thought. And then immediately…”Thank you and I hear you, Universe!”

It is so important to love what we are doing…it’s not just about making money or the prestige that comes with winning awards. We need to feel that our lives matter and that the contribution we make is important and valued by someone. Whatever we do in our work, our play and in the relationships we have, they must feed our souls and spirits to bring us closer to the state of flow.